Our passage today is the turning point of the book.  On the verge of entering the land, the people rebel.

• Grumbling and Unbelief – The spies return with tales of giants, and the people begin to grumble again.  They refuse to believe God can bring them into the land.  Note that grumbling flows out of unbelief: they didn’t believe so they grumbled.  When you grumble, you are failing to trust God.  Ponder how this truth intersects your life.
• God’s Judgment – God decrees that none of the people over 20 years old will enter the land.   Instead they will wander around in the wilderness for 40 years.  Tragically they missed the blessing God had intended for them.  Rebellion against God is serious!  Sin has consequences.
• God’s faithfulness – Despite their rebellion, God doesn’t utterly reject them.  He will bring their children into the land.  He will keep his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  As if to make this clear, God starts chapter 15 with the words, “When you come into the land….”  God’s purpose will stand.  You can trust God to be faithful to his promises even in spite of our sins.
• Good examples – In the midst of the rebellion, three men show us a better way.  When the mountain in your path seems gigantic, will you trust God like Caleb and Joshua?  When all around you are walking in sin, will you courageously stand like Caleb and Joshua?  When you see people straying and judgment nearing, will you intercede with God like Moses?  Don’t follow the crowd.  Swim against the current and live for God!

In our passage today, the people leave Mt Sinai for the Promised Land.  Observe:

• God’s direction – When the cloud went up, the people would leave.  When the cloud remained, the people stayed.  The people moved according to God’s direction.  How have you seen God guide your life?  Are you seeking to move your life according to God’s direction?  Are you seeking to live by the Book?  Are you sensitive to the Spirit’s leading?
• Grumbling – The people begin to complain.  They grumbled in Exodus on their way to Mt Sinai; now they are grumbling again as they leave.  This murmuring against God is a continuous theme throughout the rest of Numbers.  Is it a theme in your life?  Are you a grumbler?
• Consequences – God responds to their grumbling with punishment.  Many die!  God apparently hates grumbling.  Does your attitude towards grumbling match God’s view?  Do you need to confess your sins to the Lord?  When things get tough or don’t go your way, what might you do instead of grumbling?

Chapters 5-6 conclude the section of laws that started with Leviticus.  Chapters 7-8 flashback to the dedication of the tabernacle that was set up back in Exodus 40.

• Blessing – Interestingly, the section of laws ends with a blessing.  How has God blessed you?  Kept you?  How has he been gracious to you?  What peace has he given you?  Take some time to give thanks to the Lord for his blessing in your life!
• Giving – After the tabernacle was set up, each tribe offered gifts to be used for the work of the Lord?  When has God moved you to give a special gift to the work of the Lord?  What work might he be calling you to give to now?  It might be a material gift or the gift of your time.  In what ways might God be calling you to offer your life to the work of the Lord?
• Cleansing – To serve the Lord, the Levites had to be cleansed with water and sacrifice.  Jesus is our sacrifice that cleanses us.  Baptism is the water that symbolizes our cleansing through Jesus.  Take time to thank God for his cleansing work in your life.

The time is coming for the Israelites to leave Mt. Sinai.  Like with any trip – preparations must be made.  This requires some organization:

• Organized for battle – First, they must be ready to fight the upcoming battles they will face as God leads them into the land.  So God tells them to count those able to fight tribe by tribe.  How has God prepared you for the battles you are facing?  What might God want you to do in order to be better ready to face future battles in your life?
• Organized for worship – God organizes the camp around the tabernacle where he dwells.  The camp is literally organized around God.  How have you organized your life around God?  How might you better organize your life around God?
• Organized for service – God assigns the Levites to different tasks in their service to him.  Likewise today, God assigns different tasks to each Christian in his or her service to God.  How has God called and gifted you to serve?  Are you fulfilling the task God has given you?